Debatable environmental issues

Overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee gave their opinions on a draft resolution regarding environmental protection taxes during their sitting on July 12 as part of the committee’s 25th meeting. In his report on the draft resolution, Ministry of Finance Dinh Tien Dung said that amidst the current socio-economic situation, it is necessary to adjust the tax for goods that are subjected by the Law on Environmental Protection Tax. Under the report, the tax for petrol will increase to its ceiling of 4,000 VND per litre from the 3,000 VND per litre, while that of diesel will be 2,000 VND per litre instead of 1,500 VND. Meanwhile, the tax rate for anthracite fuel will rise to 30,000 VND per tonne, and that for plastic bags will go up by 10,000 VND per kilo to reach 50,000 VND per kilo. Minister Dung clarified that the changes will add 0.11-10.15 percent to the average consumer price index (CPI) in 2018. … [Read more...] about NA Standing Committee debate environmental protection taxes

A weekend report in The New York Times stated that US delegates to a recent WHO meeting sought to delete from a resolution on infant nutrition language that urged member states to "protect, promote and support" breastfeeding. The United States reportedly pressured Ecuador to drop sponsorship of the text, threatening trade sanctions and military aid cuts. In the end, the Times said, the Russians stepped in to introduce the measure -- and the final resolution preserved most of the original wording. Noting that the US position aligned with infant formula manufacturers, the paper cited the case as an example of the Trump administration siding with corporate interests on public health and environmental issues. Trump hit out at the Times article, while saying the United States was committed to ensuring women are not "denied" formula. "The failing NY Times Fake News story today about breast feeding must be called out," the president tweeted. "The U.S. strongly supports breast feeding but we … [Read more...] about Trumps weighs in on breastfeeding debate, defends formula

Japan took over the presidency of the Group of Eight club of the world's leading economies Tuesday, with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda vowing to put a focus on climate change and environmental issues. The world's second biggest economy after the United States, Japan is also the home of the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark 1997 treaty that really launched the fight against global warming. So when leaders of the rich club convene for a summit in July in Toyako, a northern resort in the Japanese island of Hokkaido, it will be with climate change on their mind. "Environmental issues will be a big agenda" item at the summit, Fukuda said in a New Year statement. "Japan hopes to lead the worldwide discussions in order to hand over clean skies to our children." It has announced four main issues for the summit: environment and climate change; the world economy; development and Africa; and broad political issues such as nuclear non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism. Apart from Japan … [Read more...] about Japan to Lead Climate Debate as Head of G8 Rich Club

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries to strengthen cooperation and turn transport corridors into economic ones to aid economic growth and fight poverty.
The PM made the statement while chairing a debate on trade and transport at the third GMS Summit that opened in Vientiane Monday.
PM Dung outlined the need to increase internal integration in sub-regional and regional development and build harmonious institutions in line with legal regulations.
He also discussed GMS countries' collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) in implementing prioritized projects and mapping out policies that facilitate partnerships and investment in the region. … [Read more...] about GMS Summit launches integration debates, seals cooperation deals

Members of the People's Council of Hanoi focused on the city's slow economic, infrastructural and administrative development in the first half of the year, placing the blame on the city authorities' management.
There are still many problems in the development of Hanoi, admitted Mr. Vu Van Ninh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee as he answered deputies' questions on the second day of the three-day second session of the 13th People's Council in the capital of Vietnam.
The problems, according to him, included the slow rise of the city's GDP (gross domestic product); the considerable decrease in production of some industries over the same period in 2003; the slow equitization of state-owned enterprises; the slow issue of land-use certificates; and the slow rate of administrative reform. … [Read more...] about Deputies debate with city officials over Ha Noi’s problems